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VANCOUVER – Mother Nature is delivering a miserable start to a long weekend for many British Columbia families.

B.C. marks Family Day on Monday, but anyone driving to or from the southern Interior may choose to delay the start of their trip until Saturday.

Safety Minister Mike Morris urges everyone to drive safely as snowfall warnings are posted for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt and on Highway 3 through the Kootenay Pass.

Up to 20 centimetres of snow is expected on both routes through Friday, although the snow should turn to rain by afternoon on the Coquihalla Highway.

Despite the snow, temperatures are mild across much of B.C., and Environment Canada is calling for better weather for return journeys on Monday.

Up to 20 centimetres of snow is also forecast Friday for inland sections of the north coast, while winds up to 110 kilometres per hour buffeted eastern and northern Vancouver Island and the central coast early Friday.